Finger-bar for mowing-machines



Patented Oct; 4, I898.

R. M. CLARK. FINGER BAB'FOB MUWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Nuv. 3, 1897. (No Model.)

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY 1n: noams PETERS co. won-ammo. wAsnmcTcN, b. c.

NITED STATES ROSIVELL M. CLARK, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOROF-ONE-HALF TO ALFRED F. BANNISTER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

FINGER-BAR FOR MOWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,993, dated October4;, 1898.

Application filed November 3, 1897. Serial No. 657,231. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROSWELL M. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger-Bars for Mowing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters ofreference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the finger-bars ofmowing-machines; and the object of my improvement is to secure increasedlightness of weight without sacrificing strength,whereby the operatorcan perform his duties with greater ease and quickness.

Further objects are to reduce the cost of construction and to secureother advantages and results, some of which may be referred tohereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved finr,

ger-bar for mowing-machines and in the arrangements and combinations ofparts thereof, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth andfinally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in each of the views, Fig ure 1is a reverse plan of a portion of the finger-bar, showing guard-fingersattached; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same on the line 00.

In said drawings, aindicates the fin ger-bar, and b the guard-finger,secured to the under side of said finger-bar a in any usual manner bybolt 0 and nut c. The reciprocating cutter-bar (not shownlslides uponthe guard-fingers in the usual manner, said cutter-bar carrying theusual cutters,which cooperate with said guard-fingers in the operationof cutting. Deeming unnecessary further description of these parts whichare in common use, I pass to the construction of the finger-bar a.Instead of the solid and very heavy bar commonly employed I use a hollowbar, as shown in Fig. 2, which comprises a piece of sheet metal foldedinto a wedge shape, thereby combining minimum weight with greatstrength.

Because'of the wedge shape of the hollow bar it presents great strengthor resistance to obstructions against which it is ormay be brought tobear as the mower movesforward. It also provides a flat seat, upon whichthe guard-fingers may be seated. I

In forming the hollow bar I fold the sheet metal longitudinally, thefold being rounded to give a rounded and considerably wide back edge ato said bar, whereby it is given adequate vertical rigidity andstrength. The forward edges of the folds a a are brought togetherfiatwise, and one of the folds, preferably the upper one, is wider thanthe other and is turned over its edge and pressed down against the outeror opposite side, so that a rounded edge is formed, and a third ply a isformed at the forward edge, which conduces to vertical strength andgreat horizontal capacity to resist impacts due to engagements with0bstructionssuch as stones, heavy plants, woody stumps, &c.

The folds a a a are held firmly and securely together by the same bolts0 which serve in holding the guard-fingers in position, the upper foldbeing countersunk to receive the heads of said bolts, so there will beno projections on which the cut grass can catch and be prevented frompassing immediately over the bar.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Thefinger-bar for mowing machines herein described comprising a sheet-metalpiece bent longitudinally to form a wide back and having its oppositeedges brought to gether and one turned over the other and guard-fingerssecured upon said bar, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a hollow finger-bar wedge-shaped in cross-sectionand fingers overlapping the thin edge and secured thereto, substantiallyas set forth. 7

3. The improvedhollow finger-barfofnlowhave hereunto set my hand this18th day of ing-lnachines, comprising a sheet-metal piece October, 1897.bent longitudinally to form a thick back for i 9 i 3 the finger-bar andhaving its opposite edges IMOMVELL CLAIMIL 5 folded together to form athin front for the lVitnesses:

finger-bar, substantially as set forth. CHARLES S. MOREY,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing T R. ALGERNON CLARK.

